Chapter 2 Tears

Talia's POV

I had no tears to cry anymore. Literally.

I had cried for days and begged and begged, but the Luna would not confess the truth; they said I did it. I stole it. I wanted to use it to regain my memories and run away. I was an ungrateful slave. I was the wolfless little dog they had taken in and taken care of but now stabbed them in the back.

For three days I had been tortured to confess the truth; Luna Selene had ordered her men to scar a different part of me until I was ready to confess my sins.

"I did not take it. I swear." I had cried over and over, but now I was covered in my own sweat and my own blood. The Alpha had also refused to see me.

"How do you expect him to when you betrayed him?"

Jade had come to see me. This was the wicked thing she did with her mom; they pretended like I was the real thief.

The amulet had been found in Luna's coat, which she had given me, and she also denied having given me the coat. Apparently, I had stolen that as well. Luna Selene pretended like the scene at Jade's room never happened. I was alone with no one on my side.

"The Alpha was nice to you, you know. Nicer than he was to me." Jade continued. That was a lie, but I was too weak to argue. "Anyways, next time, you'll know better than to go snooping around."

Her words zapped my brain awake.

There was something pain did to someone's psychology. I was so close to believing they were right. I was a thief. I did this. But her words reminded me of the truth. I had found the amulet in Jade's trunk.

But of what use was that knowledge? No one was willing to listen to me or believe me.

I did not even know my fate. I could be killed tomorrow. Or next. The countdown to my death had begun.

"I know you did not do it." It was Jared.

Jared was an ass. But because all hope was lost, I would take help from scraps.

"Please, please, I beg you with everything you hold dear, please talk to the Alpha on my behalf. Please. I beg you." I pleaded even when I knew it would fall on deaf ears.

"I would have accepted that plea, but you and I know there is nothing on this earth I hold dear or value." He said the words while staring at his pedicured nail like he was bored of speaking already.

I could not stop the tears that were gathering on my face again. What did I do to deserve this? Never for once had I thought my end would be like this. I had thought I'd be a slave till I died, but it had never occurred, even in my nightmares, that I could be slaughtered for treason.

"But." Jared continued; he now lifted his eyes to meet mine. I held his eyes through my teary ones. "We both know there is something I've always wanted. From you." His eyes raked over my body in that demeaning manner he was fond of, one I always ignored even when he began voicing his advances. I opened my mouth to turn him down on reflex, but he held a finger to shut me up. Being locked up must have begun to break me because not only did I shut my mouth, I also held my breath.

"I know who stole the amulet. I know where she hid it. I know why my dad couldn't feel it even when it was under the same roof he slept in every day. I even know where it is right now. I have everything, every single detail to prove your innocence." Jared said the words with pride and power; he knew he now held my life in his hands.

"Why should I believe that you would betray your own sister? What of Luna?" I asked. Jared was not stupid, but neither was I.

"Well, everyone knows one of us will inherit the Alpha title from my dad. There was a time in history that I would not have to worry about Jade being my opposition because she's a woman, but that time is gone; power has begun to equalize even in gender. That Jade would hide that amulet is a sign she wants to overthrow my position as heir. I will not let that happen, and we both know my mom can ease herself out of anything." He shrugged as he said the last sentence. I agreed with him on that.

"You just have to prove yourself useful to me. And I'll save you." He gloated, his green eyes glittered like real emeralds were in them, and his voice went low and dark. "I'm your only option, Tally. I won't ask you again."

My whole body tore in conflict. Death, death was so close I could feel it. The walls of the prison were closing around me, and I felt like I would suffocate; I was choking on breath.

I wanted to live. I did not want to die without knowing who I was